POLL: Most Hated Word in Fandom

[kennahijja]

Yep, this is 'another' poll, but this time quite fandomish:
(inspired and encouraged by cordelia_v)

There are numerous essays and discussions out there of the most hated words in fanfic. Expressions that make you cringe, or whimper, or throw your slipper at the screen when you encounter them in a fic. The bad stuff that makes you hit the back button, or at least tempts you to.

I'll start off and give you "orbs" as my personal 'word from the abyss' :).

[Poll #669331]

If we get enough examples, it might be fun to do a 'worst word' followup poll/deathmatch :).

Comments

[cordelia_v]

I want a follow up poll on what action or cliche or error throws you out the fastest.

For me, that would be a (slash) fuck with no lube mentioned.

[cordelia_v]

ps--I mean, no lube where it's not supposed to be awful, painful non con, that is.

[painless-j.livejournal.com]

I hate "blonde" used for Draco even more than "cum" :) I also hate "quidditch-toned muscles" and "emerald" when it's about Harry's eyes. And "Slytherin prince." Who uses it seriously, you'd say. But too many people do *headdesk*

[privatemaladict.livejournal.com]

Evidently, I don't read enough pr0n. :)

"Orbs" just makes me cringe though. I don't know who thought of it first, and I really don't know how anyone can think it an appealing alternative to "eyes".

[annephoenix.livejournal.com]

I couldn't choose ... but they're very childish - they just annoy me soooo much.

Things like lack of lube, orbs and cum make me go *meh*, but I couldn't guarantee I've never been guilty of it :D.

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

There are words that have my finger unconsciously on the back button before they even register, but of course they never come to mind when invited. My offering is the word "screamed" used in conjunction with orgasm. "He screamed when he came". Maybe I need to get out more, but I just can't believe that letting out a big girlie scream indicates depth or quality of orgasmic experience.

And "underside" makes me wince. Simply because it's become inevitable that, if a cock is unsheathed, at some point a finger or tongue will be run along the vein on the underside. I understand that there's a limit to the original detail to be found on a penis, but surely it's time to turn our attention somewhere else? (From now on, my characters will always have a distinguishing feature on their appendage - a wart or a birthmark or a tattoo of their mum.)

[cutecoati.livejournal.com]

"emerald" vs. "onyx" - tough choice ;DD

[dracos-doll.livejournal.com]

I HATE nicknames in fic's or shortened versions of names. "Dray" for example. I don't hate every fic that uses them or anything, it's just personal peeve.

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

Phew! :)
I think if we were talking cliches, I'd scream and run at 'Valentine Balls' (and everything else noncanonical in that direction...)

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

*is determined to squeeze "Snape's soulful onyx orbs" into a fanfic sometime*
Heck, it's even better than fish imagery!

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

It reads like bad romantic shepherd poetry, only that it's missing out on fluffy lambs gambolling over the mountainside :(. *shudders*

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

Nah - if you had been guilty of orbs where I could see, your ears would still be ringing ;).
Although looking at some of the poll entries there are quite a few I'm guilty of (and which've never bothered me)... is 'prick' really such a no-no?

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

Egads! I remember one fic I loved despite the 'Dray', but in general, I hate cutesy abbreviations. Although on some rare occasions, they can work...

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

Eeep. Guilty as charged! (And I'm still not sure whether the mental image of the tattoo of Lucius' mum on his little Lucius will scare me off pr0n for life... thank heavens I'm writing femmeslash at the moment...)

[annephoenix.livejournal.com]

Nah, pricks are okay ...
I use them for Dudley, for werewolves ... and for Snape. Go figure.